Individual object dispenser

ABSTRACT

There is provided an individual item dispenser which comprises a container which is maintained substantially vertical when the dispenser is in use and a receiving member located below the container. The container has an opening facing the receiving member and aperture to allow filing of the container with items to be dispensed. The items are aligned in the container in a predetermined orientation and in a single row in such a way as to be biased towards the receiving member. In use, one item sits on the receiving member and can be removed by a user and therefore, allowing the next item immediately adjacent to fall on the receiving member.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to dispensers for individual objects.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Individual objects that are used in large quantity are often stored in boxes or bags. Retrieval from these containers often causes the objects to become untidy and even result in damage to the objects. One example is tealight candles. These candles are contained in small aluminum cups and may fall off the cups when stored or manipulated in a disorderly fashion.

[0003] Dispenser have been used to overcome some of the above mentioned limitations of boxes and bags. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,821 describes a dispenser for rollable articles. In this dispenser however, the objects which are disposed in several piles in the dispenser may bounce on the other objects when rolling towards the dispenser's opening, potentially resulting in damage to the objects. As another examples, U.S. Pat. No. 5,163, 581 discloses a dispenser for cartridges. This dispenser requires a complicated mechanism to maintain and deliver the cartridges.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to overcome disadvantages of the prior art.

[0005] The above object is met by the combinations of features of the main claims, the sub-claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention relates to dispensers for individual objects.

[0007] In one embodiment of the instant invention, there is provided an individual objects dispenser comprising;

[0008] (a) a container having a long axis substantially perpendicular to a short axis;

[0009] (b) an opening at one end of the long axis;

[0010] (c) an aperture in the container to insert the objects therein, the objects being substantially aligned in a pre-determined orientation and in a single row along the long axis when placed in the container;

[0011] (d) a receiving member facing the opening for receiving and maintaining the objects in the pre-determined orientation such that at most one object is removably located between the receiving member and the opening, the objects in the container being biased towards the receiving member.

[0012] In another aspect of the instant invention, there is also provided an individual object dispenser having a cylindrical container.

[0013] In another embodiment of the instant invention, there is provided an individual object dispenser in which the objects are tealight candles.

[0014] This summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features of the invention, but that the invention may also reside in a sub combination of the described features. These and other features of the invention will becomes more apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawing wherein:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the dispenser of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The invention relates to dispensers for individual objects.

[0018] The following description is of a preferred embodiment by way of example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the instant invention will now be described. The dispenser 10 comprises a container 12 characterized by a long axis 14 and a short axis 16. The objects 18 to be dispensed are aligned along the long axis in a predetermined orientation and in a single row. The container further comprises an opening 20 at one end of the long axis. The container also comprises an aperture 22 to insert the objects in the container in a predetermined orientation. The aperture may be located at the end opposite to opening 20, but may also be located anywhere along the container. A receiving member 24 is placed facing the opening 20 at a distance from the opening that is such that at most one object is removably located between the receiving member and the opening.

[0020] In use, the objects are biased towards the receiving member. The object that is abutted to the receiving member can be removed by a user. As a result, the object adjacent to the object in the container will be caused to be pushed against the receiving member, ready to be removed by a user. The biasing mechanism may be driven by any suitable means such as but not limited to springs. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the objects are biased towards the receiving member by gravity. The preferred orientation of the long axis of the container may depend on the type of biasing mechanism used. For example, if gravity is used, the long axis should be substantially vertical.

[0021] The removal from the dispenser of the object located on the receiving member may be effected by the user by simply grabbing the object or by a mechanical device that, when activated by the user, can displace the object from its position so as to remove it from the receiving member.

[0022] The container of the object dispenser of the instant application is not limited to the cylindrical shape depicted in FIG. 1. Any shape may be used so long as the objects can be aligned in the container in a single row and in a predetermined orientation, and provided that the objects can be displaced within the container towards the opening to be received by the receiving member. The opening is preferably of a dimension and orientation that allow the objects to exit the container in substantially the same orientation as in the container.

[0023] The container as well as the receiving member can be made of any suitable material or combinations of materials such as but not limited to wood, plastic and the like.

[0024] The receiving member may have various shapes, provided that it can maintain the object in the predetermined orientation and be located so as to allow at most one object to sit in between the receiving member and the opening.

[0025] The container and the receiving member may or may not be coupled together. Thus, in one embodiment of the instant invention, the receiving member and the container may be coupled through a holder 30 wherein the container and the receiving member are maintained in the desired orientation. Alternatively, the container and the receiving member can be placed on a wall in the desired orientation. Other means to maintain the container and the receiving member in the desired orientation that would be obvious to one skilled in the art are contemplated to be part of the instant invention.

[0026] Objects suitable to be used in the dispenser of the instant invention may be any solid or semi-solid having similar dimensions. In a preferred embodiment the objects are tealight candles.

EXAMPLE

[0027] In one embodiment the dispenser of the instant invention is used to dispense tealight candles. The candles may be placed in a cylindrical container as shown in FIG. 1. The receiving member may be in the shape of a disk and the space between the opening and the receiving member is approximately equal to the height of a candle. In use, the candle sitting on the receiving member is removed by a user causing the next candle in the holder to fall on the receiving member. 

We claim:
 1. An individual objects dispenser comprising; (a) a container having a long axis substantially perpendicular to a short axis; (b) an opening at one end of said long axis; (c) an aperture in said container to insert said objects therein, said objects being substantially aligned in a predetermined orientation and in a single row along said long axis when placed in said container; (d) a receiving member facing said opening for receiving and maintaining said objects in said predetermined orientation such that at most one object is removably located between said receiving member and said opening, said objects in said container being biased towards said receiving member.
 2. The individual object dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said container is cylindrical.
 3. The individual object dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said object are tea light candles. 